We are proud to announce that eight of those families now have at least one adult who has found employment, and are close to self-sufficiency. Additionally, we are celebrating the recent employment of one of our guests who found resources through Connect2Help. The picture above represents all of the adults and children who will be positively affected by these changes.

Mission Central recently held a resume-writing workshop to help those seeking employment, and Family Opportunities Program participants have received one-on-one coaching on preparing for interviews. Our Connect2Help area has also been available for Mission Central's guests to search for and apply for jobs. This space includes bulletin boards with job listings and computers that can used by those who are seeking employment.

By giving families the tools they need to find employment, we are empowering our neighbors in need to improve their own quality of life. If you're interested in supporting these efforts, please consider making a donation or volunteering.

Each week, Mission Central's volunteers pick up more than 3,000 pounds of donated food from local grocery stores, as well as 1,000+ pounds of food from the Tarrant Area Food Bank. These dedicated volunteers use their personal trucks and load and unload each box by hand. 

As you can see from the picture to the left, that's a lot of work! Many donations come in pre-packaged pallets that are easy for box trucks to lift and carry. But, these pallets are a challenge for our volunteers who are using their personal trucks. They must break down the pallet and move the boxes around until they are able to fit the items in their vehicle. Because of the shapes, one pallet might take two vehicles to carry back to Mission Central. That's not only difficult for our volunteers to navigate, but often it also means that we can't pick up items that might otherwise be free to Mission Central.  For example, on the day this picture was taken, there was an abundant amount of produce available at the Tarrant Area Food Bank, that volunteers could have brought back to Mission Central at no charge.  However, it had to be left there because there was not enough truck space after splitting and rearranging this pallet. 

This is why Mission Central is working to obtain a box truck. We have reached out to several possible grant-makers and donors to ask for help in purchasing a new 16' - 24' box truck. But you can help, too! If you know of a person, agency, or corporation who would be interested in helping us provide more, healthy food to families in Hurst, Euless, and Bedford, please let us know! You may contact Paula Jernigan at 817-595-0011 or missioncentralmetroplex@hotmail.com for more information.